BPA is used in plastics such as water bottles and the epoxy linings of food cans. And it’s often lurking in cash register receipt paper as well.

If BPA stayed put, it wouldn’t be a problem. But it doesn’t. It leaches out of the plastic. And that means we end up swallowing it and absorbing it through our skin.

In fact, tests have revealed that up to 95 percent of US dollars are laced with BPA. And testing by the Environmental Working Group found widespread BPA contamination in canned foods ranging from ravioli to beans.

BPA is a suspected endocrine disruptor. It mimics estrogen. Which means your body has a hard time telling it apart from the actual hormone.

And that’s a problem because studies have confirmed the compound may be associated with a long list of frightening health problems including …

hormone disruption

cancer

heart conditions

high blood pressure

obesity

diabetes

reproductive issues

behavioral problems

The official word from the FDA is the BPA levels most of us are exposed to are perfectly safe. They say there’s nothing to worry about.

But they couldn’t be more wrong.

There’s plenty of evidence that BPA is toxic at low levels. Which is why I’ve been encouraging folks to run from this stuff for years.

And you may have already heeded that advice. Which is fantastic. But don’t make the mistake of thinking you’re safe.

“Safe” BPA-free plastics hazardous for your health

Because the plastics industry has pulled a bait-and-switch, that’s putting you and your loved ones at risk. And once again, the government isn’t doing a darn thing about it.

BPA-free plastic alternatives have been popping up all over in the past few years. You’ve probably seen those “BPA-Free” stickers slapped on everything from plastic water bottles to canned foods.

The only trouble is these BPA alternatives are turning out to be every bit as bad as the original. They’ve just put some paint on a very dangerous pig.

Why BPA-free is a bust

When consumers like you and me started rejecting products made with bisphenol-A, the industry scrambled to come up with some BPA-free alternatives.

And they ended up replacing BPA with kissing cousin compounds including BPS, BPF, BPAF, BPZ, BPP, and BHPF. Which we were led to believe were safe alternatives.

But it turns out these structurally similar variations on the original carry many of the same risks.

According to several recent studies, BPA-free plastics can alter human reproduction at the cellular level. And those cellular changes and damage get passed down for generations.

And you know what that means, right?

You guessed it. It’s time to do JUST what we did with BPA. Take some steps to slash our exposure to these new BPA-free plastics too.

Here’s how…

Drinking bottles:

Use stainless steel water bottles instead of plastic ones. And skip the aluminum versions too. Many of them are lined with an epoxy resin also. One brand we trust is Klean Kanteen.

Wondering if your bottle is safe or not? Taking a peek at the lining could give you some clues. If the coating has a golden-orange tint, chances are it could leach one of these chemicals into in your drink. White liners are generally safer.

Food storage containers:

If you aren’t already using stainless steel or glass food storage containers, it’s time to make the switch. Initially they will be a bit more expensive than the cheap plastic ones you can pick up at the grocery store. But they more than make up for the investment in health benefits and durability.

Skip the plastic wrap:

If you’re microwaving use a paper towel to contain splatters instead of plastic. Or buy a glass cover made specifically for this purpose.

And while I don’t necessarily encourage cooking in aluminum foil (especially at higher temps), if you need to wrap food up for storage it’s a far safer alternative. Healthy people naturally excrete aluminum in their urine.

Skip paper receipts:

Testing has turned up both BPA and BPS in abundance in cash register receipt papers. When the cashier asks if you need a receipt if you don’t, say no thanks. And if the store offers to email you an electronic receipt instead of giving you a paper one go for it. If you’re concerned about sharing your email address set up a free e-mail account that you use specifically for receipts.

The truth is there’s no way to escape plastics completely. The plastics industry is powerful and their products permeate every part of our lives.

But you can Reduce your exposure to these BPA-free frauds by taking the simple steps above.